Apparatus for controlling glue pattern



April 27 1955 v J. B. HOGLUND 3,180,311

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING GLUE PATTERN Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTR 44 L JOHN B. HoGLuND United States Patent O 3,180,311 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING GLUE PATTERN .lohn Bruno Hoglund, Rosedale, N.Y., assigner to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jari. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,348 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-211) The present invention relates to improvements in packaging machinery and in particular to an improved method and apparatus for controlling the automatic application of an adhesive to a closure llap on cartons or the like.

The present invention has particular utility in a packaging machine of 'the type described in the copending application S.N. 73,265, filed on December 2, 1960, in the name of Frank Hollenton. This application describes an automaticrpackaging machine wherein a plurality of cigars are inserted in an open-ended, preformed carton, which is then indexed through a series of steps for closing the upper end and sealing the lower end. In sealing the lower end, the closure ap' is passed over a continuously rotating glue applicator wheel, which deposits a layer of adhesive on the underside of the flap. The flap is thereupon mechanically folded and heat treated to form a permanent seal.

It has been found in this machine, as in many of similar purpose, that the application of the adhesive is difficult to control, particularly if the glue wheel and the carton move at different relative speeds. Generally, the

trailing edge of the flap is overladen with an excess amount of glue which, when the li'ap is closed, oozesl out of the closing, fouling the packaging apparatus and making an unattractive and messy box.

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling the application of glue in machines of the type described. v

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide apparatus forimprovingthe operation of the packaging machine described in S.N. 73,265.

lt is the further object to provide a simple, inexpensive means for controlling the application of an adhesive from a glue wheel to a moving package member which means is independent of both the apparatus operating the glue wheel or moving the carton.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a portion of a packaging machine showing the present invention installed;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the further operation of the invention, and;

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view taken along lines 3 of FIG. 1 showing the relation of the present invention with the apparatus of the packaging machine.

The present invention will be described in detail as a part of the machine shown in S.N. 73,265 for the sake of making a representative disclosure. Further, only those portions of the machine shown in U.S. S.N. 73,265 as are necessary to create an environment for the present invention will be shown here. It is to be understood that the present invention may be adapted to Virtually any machine where a continuously rotating glue wheel is used to apply an adhesive to a moving carton member. Y

Accordingly, the present description is to be taken illustratively only and that the invention is not to be limited 3,180,311 Patented Apr. 27, 1965 The glue apparatus 10 is mounted on frame members 14 and comprises a glue Wheel 16 secured on a rotating shaft 17 connected by mechanical linkages (not shown) to al source of controlled power for continuous rotation. The glue wheel 16 is adapted to rotate clockwise dipping into al pot or receptacle 18 containing a quantity of adhesive.

The conveyor 12 comprises an endless chain belt 20 (adapted to periodically index to the right in the drawing) on which is mounted anumber of pockets P, each pocket having a relatively large front wall 22 and a shallower rear wall 24. Into each pocket P is inserted a preformed open-ended carton C which is loaded with a charge, such as a number of cigars. The carton feed, charge loading mechanism and mechanism for moving the conveyor are not shown since they do not bear upon the present invention.

As the carton C is moved toward the glue applicator 10 the carton is presented in a substantially horizontal position with an upper closure flap 26 and a lower closure liap 28V extending outwardly therefrom. At a point preceding the location of glue wheel 16 there are adjustably positioned on bracket 29' a pair of plow members 30 and 32. The lower plow member 30 is shaped and adapted to fold the lower closure flap 28 vertically against the bottom of the carton C (see FIG. 3). The upper plow 32 is shaped and adapted to retain the upper closure flap 26 in a substantially horizontal position, extending directly outward from carton C. The upper plow member 32 has a forward portion 34, extending horizontally directly above the glue wheel 16. As the carton is indexed through the-plow members'30 and 32, to the glue wheel 16, the lower closure flapl is thus folded while the upper closure flap is presented in substantially horizontal position directly on the glue whee116 for the application of the adhesive directly to its bottom face.

As theY glue is applied the cartonl continues its movement' toward another plow member 36', forward of the glue' wheel 16, which is shaped and adapted to then fold the upper flap 26 downwardly into engagement with the already folded bottom closure flap 28. Thereafter the closure is dried and sealed with apparatus not shown.

ln accordance with the present invention, there is mounted on frame 14, forward of the wheel 16 and beneath the plow 36, a finger 40 which extends upwardly between the conveyor and the wheel 16, into contact with the underface of the upper ap 26. The linger 40 preferably of flat sheet metal stock is pivotally mounted on an adjustable bracket 42 comprising a collar 43 which is spring biased by member 44 to conjointly swing the finger upwardly a limited distance. As the carton C is indexed over the glue wheel 16, the forward end of the upper flap 30 enters between the plow 36 and the extending linger 40, which is then slightly depressed and placed under tension. As the conveyor continues its forward movement, the rear end of the carton C and the upper flap 26 disengages from the ilat horizontal extension 34 of the rear upper plow 32, whereupon the extending finger 40 forces the tiap 26 to immediately twist upwardly, away from the glue wheelV 16, preventing further application of adhesive to the trailing edge of the flap.

The collar 43 and linger 40 are biased together to pivot about a pin 46. A screw member 48 is furnished which may be adjusted to vary the extent of movement of the finger 40. Alternately the collar 43 may be mounted to the bracket 42 in fixed position and reliance placed solely on the spring tension of the pivotal linger 40. The finger 40 may be adjusted in its bracket 42 as well as by the spring 44 so that the elevation of the ap 26 may be varied and the passage of the flap between the plows and the linger controlled as desired. Furthermore the distance between the forward and aft plows 32 and 36 may be varied for the purpose of locating the point at which the flap 26 should be made to disengage from the wheel 16 It will be observed that during most of the passage of the carton C over the Wheel 16 the flap 26 rests on the Wheel either through the action of the rear and forward plows 36 and 32, respectively. In fact, when the carton iiap 26 is engaged beneath both plows, it is under some stress as seen by the slight bow 50 made in Hap 26 over the wheel 16. This tension facilitates the release of the Hap 26 from the wheel when its trailing edge 52 disengages from the extension 34 of rear plow 32. Because of the position of forward plow 36 and the finger 40 (as in a simple lever arrangement) the flap 26 is caused to twist, as previously indicated, immediately upon disengagement from plow 32. The application of adhesive to the ap 26 is thus controlled regardless or the speed of movement of either the wheel 16 or conveyor 18.

Certain obvious advantages accrue to the present structure amongst which are: (l) the present invention may be simply and economically manufactured and installed on nearly any machine in present use without the necessity of their being redesigned; (2) the application of glue is controlled without utilizing segmented glue wheels and without providing expensive mechanisms for the synchronization of glue wheel and moving conveyor; (3) glue is prevented from being applied only to the trailing edge of the carton where the normal tendency would be to apply an excess amount of glue.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be effectively adapted for use on any variety of machines and as various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangements of the device, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic packaging machine, apparatus for controlling the deposition of an adhesive to a closure flap of a carton or the like comprising, adhesive applicating means, means for conveying said carton past said apd plicating means with said ap in contact therewith, and means for lifting the trailing edge of said flap out of Contact with said applicating means at a predetermined position in the movement of said carton whereby adhesive is not deposited at said trailing edge.

2. In an automatic packaging machine, apparatus for controlling the deposition of an adhesive to a closure flap of a carton or the like, comprising adhesive applicator means, means for conveying said carton past said applicator means with said flap in contact therewith, means located fore and aft of said applicator for maintaining said ap in engagement therewith, and means, operable upon the passage of said flap beyond said aft maintaining means, for causing said flap to disengage from said applicator means whereby adhesive is only deposited on a predetermined portion of said ap.

3. In an automatic packaging machine, apparatus for controlling the deposition of an adhesive to a closure llap of a carton, or the like, comprising adhesive applieator means, having a rotary wheel, means for conveying said carton past said applicator with said ap overlying said glue wheel, means associated with said conveying means located fore and aft of said applicator for maintaining said flap in engagement with said glue wheel during the passage of said carton, and spring biased finger means engaging the underside of said ilap for lifting said flap out of engagement with said glue wheel upon the passage of said ap beyond said aft maintaining means.

4. The apparatus ot claim 3 including means for varying the point at which said flap is disengaged from said applicator wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,178 7/09 Wentworth 118-258 2,288,720 7/ 42 Knowlton 118-259 2,674,974 4/54 Gwinn et al 118-211 X 2,767,832 10/56 Silberman 20G-48.5 2,804,043 8/57 Netzley 118-2 RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH B. SPENCER, Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE, APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE DEPOSITION OF AN ADHESIVE TO A CLOSURE FLAP OF A CARTON ON THE LIKE COMPRISING, ADHESIVE APPLICATING MEANS, MEANS FOR CONVEYING SAID CARTON PAST SAID APPLICATING MEANS WITH SAID FLAP IN CONTACT THEREWITH, AND MEANS FOR LIFTING THE TRAILING EDGE OF SAID FLAP OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID APPLICATING MEANS AT A PREDETERMINED 